Cohort #11 (2026-2027)

Aidan grew up just about 30 minutes away in Benicia, always eager from a young age to get out of town and explore the larger cities in surrounding areas. Going to shows and playing in bands as early as second grade, being in the live music industry was not only an aspiration, but a constant theme. Whether being onstage or working closely with talent and crew at live venues and music stores (employed on floor staff at The UC Theatre since December 2025), the need for forward movement and indefinite placement inside the live music industry is what drives him to not only create music, but to maintain spaces for others to play as well.

Aidan is deeply inspired by all forms of music, currently playing guitar in the Bay Area post-hardcore group Concision, touring the United States throughout the rest of the year into 2027 and beyond. He is inspired by the workflow and teamwork of everyone involved at a concert venue and everything that happens throughout the house and behind the scenes. He joined the CCP program this year to further his personal experience and knowledge to take into personal projects and to also explore a career behind the scenes simultaneously, working personally with promoting bands, marketing them, getting them into venues and so much more. Music has never just been a passive hobby, it has been a lifestyle and to jumpstart a career working at The UC Theatre making live music as successful as it can be, is simply a must for Aidan.

Anamaria Gonzalez Ahumada was born and raised in Sacramento, CA and is a recent Media Studies and Psychology graduate from UC Berkeley. She first gained interest in the music industry as she was preparing to apply for college in high school. Since then, she has focused on growing her social media skills and participating in programs and internships to gain more experience. During community college, she received an A.S.-T in Business Administration and A.A. in Arts and Humanities while interning for a touring start up where she got her first experience in the industry. After moving to Berkeley for school, her access to concerts has increased significantly thanks to the Bay Area’s music scene.

Anamaria is inspired by her experiences as a fan and hopes to cultivate special experiences for fans by learning about aspects of the music industry and what it takes to put on a live concert event. By experiencing awe at concerts, she has experienced the special connection between artists, music, and the audience of strangers and hopes to learn more about the behind the scenes of live music. This desire led to her discovery of the Concert Career Pathways program when looking for hands-on opportunities in the Bay Area to take advantage of after moving.

By participating in the program, she hopes to explore more facets of the live music industry and gain hands-on experience to build a foundation of knowledge for her career. She will take advantage of CCP’s unique opportunity to learn at a music venue with diverse peers in a competitive industry. She will continue to develop skills learned in previous extracurriculars and begin to apply her knowledge from academia in a learning environment created to develop live music industry professionals!

Angelica grew up in a small agricultural town in the Central Valley and has been adjusting to city life as she finishes her Bachelor's Degree in political science at UC Berkeley. Their interest in the entertainment industry started out with cutting felt pieces for their high school play, building larger set pieces in community college, and running a small student production musical at the university. While she loves to study and continue forth in her education, being a part of a creative community that puts on shows helps her to stay grounded.

Since attending their first concert at 12, they were always left curious about the people beyond the stage who were able to put a show on together. She aspires to become a part of this community, and work alongside people who share a passion for music and arts. Hopefully, one day to work as a set designer or stage manager at a professional level. The CCP program arrived at the perfect time, the transition between graduating and discovering what it means to have a career. The ability to work in a hands-on environment, and to meet new people brings them great excitement to be involved with The UC Theatre.

Ashantay Christie is a North Bay-born and raised creative professional and emerging artist with a passion for photography, film, acting, and live entertainment. Her love for photography began during a trip to a redwood national park, where she discovered how much she enjoyed capturing the beauty of her surroundings and telling stories through images. Since then, photography has become an important part of her creative journey. She is also an avid concertgoer with a deep appreciation for live music and the energy of live performances. Her passion for concerts has inspired her interest in the behind-the-scenes world of live entertainment and the many creative people who bring these experiences to life.

She has gained hands-on experience in media production and live entertainment, developing skills in production support, photography, and working in collaborative creative environments. Currently studying Computer Information Sciences at Solano Community College with plans to transfer to a 4-year university, she is interested in exploring the connection between technology and the creative industries. She hopes to build a career that combines her technical skills with her passion for photography, film, acting, and entertainment while contributing to greater representation and opportunities within the creative field.

Ava was born in Guatemala and adopted by her two lovely moms, and she has lived in San Francisco ever since. Since then, she has recently graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in BECA (Broadcasting Electronic Communication Arts) with a minor in Music Composition. She recently attained a certificate in Music Recording/Industry through the CSU and San Francisco State as well. She has also worked at Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festivals. Ava is also part of the close-knit WAM (Women’s Audio Mission) family as a past intern. Ava is focused on the audio world and is passionate about sharing an authentic voice. She is also a huge advocate for women and gender-expansive inclusivity in the audio and music industry. She hopes that the future of audio can be just as diverse and inclusive in this new modern era.

Some of her aspirations are working with various artists in a music studio, specializing in acoustics, and helping artists communicate their sound. Ava also loves songwriting, producing her own instrumentals, and live music. She hopes to work in the studio and in live events. Some of Ava’s inspirations include various artists like Zendaya, Beach House, Danny Elfman, and Tim Burton. Ava hopes to inspire other people to be open and kind. Ava hopes to use her previous experience from her degree and past to enhance her learning and skills in the audio industry and live events and create an inclusive, safe environment.

Bethany (she/he) grew up in Fairfield, CA with her two parents, a younger brother, and a community of friends that instilled in her a deep admiration for human connection. She was influenced to major in STEM by her family of nurses and her own personal drive to serve others. She eventually graduated in 2024 from University of California, Davis, with a B.S. in Biotechnology and a minor in Professional Writing.

Despite this, there was a difference between the curiosity she held for STEM and the palpable excitement that manifested itself in “doing things for the love of the game”. Writing and singing were her grounding forces in the midst of academic chaos. She gravitated towards people with passions in all kinds of mediums, be it drawing, painting, sewing, music, and everything in between. She woke up at 4am every week to co-host “Attention Deficit” on KDVS 90.3 FM under her alias as bwebuh alongside her roommate, DJ Star Filter. Growing bolder in her artistic interests, the college parties she’d host turned into opportunities to have friends bring instruments and DDJs to perform their own music in front of a crowd. Inspiration grew in the reminiscing she’d overhear of favorite setlists from parties that took place months ago, the new connections her friends found through these shared spaces, and the electricity oozing from her loved ones at the possibility of performing again.

There is a glimpse into the artists’ inner world through a recorded song, but the raw connection and performance in a live show adds a magic that takes it to another level. The story is told in its entirety, with wordless conversations between players and their instruments and an unabashed sharing of one's self to the world that can inspire in a way few spaces can achieve. Concert Career Pathways presented itself in front of Bethany as the door to explore this world that she never expected to be so enamored with, and she’s excited for the opportunity to show others how healing live music can truly be.

Crystal is a recent high school graduate from Placerville, CA. Crystal enjoys any management work, golfing, paddleboarding, and casual snowboarding along with many falls. During Crystal’s time in high school she stumbled into theatre and shortly became passionate about all things technical theatre. After exploring almost every corner of tech and making a new producer role in her theatre she earned one of the biggest awards in California, the “Bob Spirit of Lenaea Award”. Though she received a theatre award she felt as if musical theatre wasn't what she wanted. She tapped into her love of live music and began to search for any internships, where she found the CCP program. While reading about what The UC Theatre offers she quickly applied and moved her entire life in her little Toyota Corolla to Berkeley once she was accepted. During her time at The UC Theatre, Crystal plans to take every opportunity she can to learn. She is entering the internship with a focus in audio-visual work but as the workshops happen she continues to get more invested into new areas of work such as Front-of-House Operations, Marketing and Concert Promotion. Crystal’s motivation to continue to work hard and learn everything is to become an all-rounder and be able to work with local bands to keep the DIY scene alive. Crystal is very excited and proud to work along with The UC Theatre and make lifelong connections that will follow her throughout her management career in the live music industry. She would like to thank her mom, friends and most of all her supporting boyfriend that have all helped to get her through the struggles that life has thrown at her at such a young age.

Diego was born in San Francisco and raised predominantly in Berkeley, though has lived in cities all throughout the East Bay. Growing up surrounded by the region's rich art and music culture, he developed an early passion for visual and multimedia arts alongside his love of music, spending countless hours experimenting with video creation. In high school, this grew into a serious interest in video production and experimental filmmaking, a path that later led him to work on multiple professional documentary sets and take on freelance video editing work.

Diego leads himself through life with an open mind, always willing to try and experience new things. Through the Concert Career Pathways program, he hopes to gain hands-on experience in concert visuals and lighting production, bridging his long-standing love of music and visual art with practical, professional skills. He is eager to learn directly from industry professionals, build the technical foundation needed to help bring live performances to life through lighting design, and carry these skills forward into his own creative work.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Ethan Rondez has been surrounded by music his whole life. Growing up on 2000’s Pop, Rock, and Electronic music, as well as learning how to play the clarinet and marimba throughout his school years set the scene for him to love a wide variety of musical styles. He enjoys discovering new artists, whether that be through opening acts for artists he loves, digging in a record store's bins, or just hearing about them on social media. If he’s not at work or helping his family, he’s listening to music on his headphones or is at a concert with his friends.

Ethan originally attended Solano Community College with plans to transfer to Sonoma State to become an occupational therapist. His plans quickly changed as he was introduced to the world of audio-visual work through his best friend's step-dad, eventually deciding that working in the live music industry interested him much more. Ethan wants to continue learning more about the concert industry and build upon his previous work as an amateur audio-visual technician assistant. He hopes to find a place in concert production through the CCP program, particularly if it involves audio, and is excited to make new connections with people who share his passion for music.

Faith grew up in a small town in the central valley of California where not much goes on. During her teen years, you could often find her at a small theater show somewhere in the bay screaming along to her favorite songs. Which conveniently, is where she discovered the CCP program.

Many nights spent watching crews transform an empty stage into an exciting performance sparked her passion for live music. Today, her dream is to build a career in the live music industry in production, working closely with artists and venues to bring performances to life. With this program, she hopes to gain hands on experience in concert operations, stagehand work, and lighting while learning from the best in their fields. Her long term goal is to spend her career on the road, see the world, work with talented likeminded individuals, and help put on shows that the audience will never forget.

Growing up in Oakland, California, shaped how they see storytelling and community. Being surrounded by a town with such a rich culture of music, art, and sports gave them an early appreciation for the power of media to capture a moment and make it last. That upbringing is where their love for sports media first took root, watching local games and broadcasts and noticing how the camera could turn a single play into something people would talk about for years.

That early fascination grew into a genuine passion for videography and digital storytelling. They've developed a strong interest in video editing, learning how the right cut, transition, or piece of music can completely change how a story feels. Looking ahead, they hope to one day shoot and edit a documentary, telling a story from start to finish in their own voice. Ultimately, they aspire to build a career somewhere in the film or music industry, using their eye for visual storytelling to create work that resonates with people the same way the media they grew up watching did for them.

They applied to the program because they see it as a direct path toward those goals. The hope is this program offers the kind of hands-on experience and mentorship needed to sharpen their skills in videography and editing, while also connecting them to a community of people who share their drive to create. For someone who grew up inspired by the stories told through sports and music, this program feels like the natural next step toward turning that inspiration into a career.

A Hayward native and lover of all things indie/electronic/pop, Jason was constantly singing and humming from a young age, hoping to live an artist's life surrounded by music. As he grew older, he found himself slowly drifting away from that dream, pulled towards a more "stable" lifestyle and career. After graduating from UC San Diego with a B.S. in UX Design, he realized a part of him had never stopped thinking about music and how it made him feel. He then set out to participate more in the Bay Area’s creative community and find his place in it. After taking additional music classes at Chabot College and helping out as a stagehand/assistant for Bay Area Rising shows, he developed a knowledge and interest in audio engineering and music production. He has also seen firsthand how a show can facilitate a tight-knit community of musicians, creatives, and music-lovers to all come together and bond. Inspired by his fellow creatives intent on establishing their careers in videography, photography, audio, lighting, etc., Jason is likewise determined to pursue his own creative passions. Now in The UC Theatre’s CCP program, Jason hopes to explore ways to incorporate all of his interests and life learnings as he furthers his knowledge of technical production, audio engineering, and marketing/UX design within the context of the live music industry. It is his hope to give back and cultivate experiences that make people feel at home, just as he has experienced at previous shows with other creatives.

Jessica Santos was born and raised in the Bay Area- living in the East Bay all her life. She was born to a fiercely independent single mother and is an only child. She is a proud first gen Latina student studying Business Administration for transfer at Ohlone Community College.

Growing up, Jessica danced recreationally from ages 4-8 and then competitively from 9 until she finished high school. Dance as a sport and creative outlet was a prominent part of her life, and her passion for it is interlinked with her everlasting love for music. During the pandemic she used her downtime to expand her music taste and knowledge, discovering her interest in rock and subgenres like punk, metal, and new wave. This love for music morphed into the love of live music when she consistently began attending shows of various scales post pandemic lockdown. Organically, she began attending local Bay Area punk/hardcore shows in 2023, finding community and making connections. From 2021 to now, she has been to 50+ shows and counting and has even met some of her idols such as Kirk Hammett & Rob Trujillo from Metallica, Devo, Billy Idol, and Monkey from The Adicts.

Jessica applied to the CCP program after realizing she wanted to make a career out of something she was deeply passionate about. Her aspirations are to learn and grow within the music/live music industry and make connections that last. She is grateful that programs like CCP exist to level the playing field for people with aspirations like hers and help her get into rooms she never thought she could be in. Aside from the business aspect of the industry, she also aspires to start creating her own music and get creative ideas off the ground. She is excited to see where her new journey at The UC Theatre with CCP takes her and is grateful for an educational opportunity like this.

Josh Falcon is an avid guitar player and has been a musician for almost 10 years. He recently earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music from Cal State East Bay and is now looking for the right career that he can spend the rest of his life doing. His biggest strength is live performance and he performs regularly with both his band and other groups. He is the lead guitarist of Lions of Fire, a new local prog metal band. The band works very hard, has put on and promoted shows already, and Josh is very excited to see where they all go in the near future.

Josh grew up in San Leandro, a small city in the East Bay tucked between Oakland and Hayward. He also spent a lot of time in Berkeley while growing up, and has fond memories of running around the UC Berkeley campus when he was very little.

He very much hopes to continue to grow his band over the years and throughout the rest of his life. The band is very important to him, and he wants to be able to create good music and bring it to his community for as long as possible. He also hopes to find a fulfilling and fun lifelong career alongside being a musician, and is very interested in both sound engineering and concert photography. He hopes to be in a place one day where he can also give back to the community in some way, possibly by opening a creative center with community resources and career training opportunities, or something similar.

His main musical inspirations are Dream Theater, Rush, Metallica, Pink Floyd, Megadeth, Van Halen, and Porcupine Tree. He is very inspired by guitarists such as John Petrucci and Marty Friedman, as well as bassists such as Cliff Burton, Geddy Lee and Les Claypool.

Josh applied to the Concert Career Pathways program because he truly believed in the potential of this program from the minute he first heard about it. He sincerely wants to invest in himself and his future to find a career that is both financially sustainable but also emotionally fulfilling. He believes this truly unique program will be the best way to achieve that while also building real connections with a new and wonderfully diverse community.

Kaleo Green is a drummer, producer, and audio engineer who grew up all over the Bay Area, mainly in Richmond. Music has always been Kaleo's way of connecting with his community and his roots. Whether he's playing gigs, producing tracks, engineering sessions, or working behind the scenes at live shows, he loves being around people who are passionate about what they do. He applied to the Concert Career Pathways program to meet more people like that, learn how the live music industry works from the inside, and keep growing.

Kaleo plans to open a speakeasy-style music venue where people can discover incredible artists and feel at home. He also plans to start a nonprofit that gives young drummers more opportunities, mentorship, and access to music. He's inspired by artists like Wizkid, Smino, J Dilla, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Claydough for the way they create worlds through their art. No matter what he's working on, he's most excited about creating spaces where music brings people together and leaves people with stories they'll carry for years to come.

Lydia Boreen is born and raised in the East Bay Area, where she’s racked up a significant amount of interests in her 17 years; teaching swim lessons, thrifting, swimming, going backpacking and being outdoors, but of course, most importantly, going to live music shows. From an early age, Lydia was exposed to live shows, from going to the circus in the park to her very first concert- Weird Al Yankovic. Lydia is motivated each day by her family and her friends, she is grateful to have such close people who she can express her love for the stage with and have supported every choice she’s taken and every shot she’s missed.

Lydia’s always been very interested in working behind the scenes at a live music venue, so deciding whether or not to apply for the Concert Career Pathways (CCP) program was a no-brainer. Lydia is excited to learn everything there is to show production- from creating the perfect promotional flier, to pushing and lifting the heaviest of boxes. Lydia is excited to try something new! She’s even more excited it’s at The UC Theatre, a place where Lydia says she’s never seen a bad show. Lydia is inspired daily by having a community, expanding her creative mind, and learning new things about herself. Lydia cannot wait to be a part of this program and start her future in live music!

Madelyn was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She is a designer passionate about creating spaces where people can express themselves and connect with others through visual storytelling. She finds inspiration in the everyday moments and stories around her, from café hopping and walking through parks to chatting with others to learn about what they’re passionate about.

Through the CCP program, Madelyn hopes to further her aspiration of creating meaningful spaces that bring people together and encourage self-expression. She is excited to connect with other creatives in the Bay Area, learn from their experiences, and contribute her perspective as a designer who believes that music inspires connection and community.

Hello! My name is Maeve. I grew up in Berkeley and just recently completed my AA at Merritt College in Oakland. I stumbled across the CCP program through a friend in the last cohort who loved it, so I'm really grateful they encouraged me to apply! In my free time, I produce beats and make music videos for local artists around the East Bay. I also do some engineering and visual art for fun.

Coming from an athletic background, transitioning my time and energy into making art has had its challenges, but I've learned through working with a wide range of artists that collaboration is kind of like university in its own way, where every connection is another opportunity to learn and broaden your perspective both artistically and personally.

I've been going to shows all my life. I feel really blessed to reside in the Bay Area, where you can easily find yourself bouncing around the music scene surrounded by every genre imaginable.

Everything about being in a performance atmosphere and hearing music played live, feeling sound travel through the air, moves me deeply and has always inspired me in some way or another. These past few years I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer at local venues and help friends throw small shows, which really sparked my interest in knowing more about the behind-the-scenes work that makes live events possible. I'm hoping that with the skills I learn through this program, I'll be able to help protect small DIY venues and hopefully one day open a welcoming community space that serves as an accessible entry point into live performance, where emerging artists feel included, supported, and free to express themselves.

Mariko Rath is an Oakland native, currently studying Photojournalism at San Francisco State University. She aspires to be a Photojournalist or Documentarian in order to share important, and personal stories with the world. Some of her inspirations are Lance Bangs, Dave Markey, and Agnès Varda.

She has visited The UC Theatre since she was a child, and loves to go to concerts all around the Bay. She loves all music from skramz to jazz.

She applied to the CCP program because she wanted to be part of its creative and inspiring environment, centered around music. She is excited to gain experience working at music venues, since she frequents them often in her free time, and cannot wait to be a part of The UC Theatre team!

Quinn grew up in North Berkeley and was exposed to all different kinds of music from the very start. He first volunteered at a local screamo show six months ago and was immediately curious about how everything worked. He continued to volunteer and meet new people, hoping to learn more about show production and the stories of the people who worked at smaller venues in the East Bay.

In his previous year of high school, he took a course on digital sound engineering which taught the basics of recording, mixing, producing, sound tech and audio software. It was in that class he first heard about the CCP program and was encouraged to apply. The teacher of that class and the various other people he’s met at local venues, whether that be bands, managers, volunteers, security, or techs, are all his biggest inspirations. They are a group of people working together to do something cool and support the arts. Respect, community and dedication are still very much alive in the East Bay scene.

Quinn applied to the CCP program to get hands-on production and tech experience, and to get to know other like-minded individuals who were interested in the live concert industry. Community is and always has been something important in his life, and having a group of people to work with and learn from was immediately exciting. In the future, he plans to work as a stagehand and audio tech and focus primarily on working at smaller alternative venues.

Born and raised in Berkeley, California, Ryan is a Bay Area kid raised on good food, jazz at the Cheeseboard, and the Warriors, for as long as he can remember. Ryan always had one earbud in no matter what he was doing and a dad who loved taking him to concerts and festivals whenever he could. Ryan’s upbringing sparked his interest in the tenor saxophone and creating music beginning in middle school. As he entered high school, he and his friends became interested in producing music and posting it online. At first the music-making was a way to hang out with friends, but later became a dedicated collective focused on creating royalty-free beats for independent artists, ultimately leading to an entirely online-based community of artists who would coordinate beat placements and creative partnerships. The music collective gave Ryan his first real sense of what a career in the music industry could look like.

Coming from a household that always listened to Berkeley’s local college radio station, KALX, Ryan carried that love with him to Los Angeles, where he joined UCLA Radio as soon as he arrived on campus. At UCLA, he became engrossed in the sports and music scene of Los Angeles through on-air music shows, artist interviews, and concerts he helped on around Westwood through UCLA Radio. This inspired Ryan to pursue a degree in communications and a minor in music industry and an internship at Monotone Inc, where he received an inside look at how an independent label operates day to day.

Now, returning home to Berkeley, Ryan works in the kitchen at Chez Panisse and fills his spare time going to as many shows as he can with friends while still producing music from his bedroom. Ryan is incredibly passionate about making live music both affordable and representative of the community’s interests. It was this passion that drew him to apply to the CCP program where he hopes to help book local Bay Area acts and to make sure the community he grew up in continues to offer live music and bands from the area. He looks forward to being a part of the CCP program at The UC Theatre and gaining a deeper understanding of the music industry through hands-on work, learning directly from industry professionals, and getting the chance to connect with like-minded music lovers in the Bay Area.

Shawn Bloch is a Junior at Oakland High School. He has played trombone for over 5 years and is in O-High’s Pep Band and top Jazz Band, and the Oakland Symphony's Muse Vivo Wind Ensemble. Shawn is also on O-High’s varsity Cross Country and Track and Field teams. He loves to watch live music, perform, and listen to music. He enjoys helping out his communities through coaching youth, teaching music, and advocating for Oakland’s young people. Shawn grew up in Oakland and has gone to Oakland public schools since kindergarten. Being from and growing up in the Bay Area has taught Shawn about so many different people and their experiences and Oakland has really shaped who he is today.

Shawn is inspired by a wide range of people including his friends and mentors but mainly his family. He aspires to have a full life with a good balance of work he enjoys (possibly in music), a social life that supports him having fun, and hobbies that keep him physically and mentally healthy. Shawn also aspires to be a reliable person people can turn to for help and to be a good listener for those who need it.

Shawn has enjoyed music from a very young age. He feels that music is powerful and moving and it unites people in ways nothing else he has experienced does. He loves to share music with people who haven’t yet connected with and been inspired by music the way he has. Shawn usually does this by performing and bringing along friends to see music with him. However, he wants to learn how to spread the joy and his love of music in other ways as well. Shawn is eager to learn about all it takes to put on shows and work to make these events the most enjoyable for the audience.

Stephanie grew up in Vacaville and Fairfield, just outside of the Bay Area. She graduated from Solano Community College and California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor's in Accounting and General Management with the hopes of utilizing that degree to find her place in the live music industry. Music has always been a source of comfort and inspiration in her life, and she wants to be involved in it in her personal life and professionally.

Stephanie aspires to find a community that embraces people for who they are and encourage her to be the best version of herself. Establishing a community that she can rely on is one of her life long goals, and she hopes to find the people and places that build the foundation of that community.

Stephanie is inspired by her family and all their years of hard work and sacrifice to ensure that her and her siblings have the opportunities to live the lives that they dream of without barriers. Her friends all have a special place in her heart and have always been the support system during the good and bad times. She also finds inspiration in her favorite artists' work. To her, artists have a unique way of seeing the world and a beautiful way of sharing that view with people. All forms of art, creativity, and expression are a way to bring people of all walks of life together.

Stephanie applied to CCP to connect with people who share a passion for music and the arts, and she believes that CCP is the perfect way to find and grow within that community. She hopes that the work she does will help others find where they belong too.

My name is Sydney Leigh Higgins and I’m a 23 year old who grew up in Sacramento, California. I’d describe myself as an extrovert who yearns to be an introvert, meaning I love connecting and experiencing life with others but enjoy my time to recharge a little too much. I have one older sister whom I was not close to growing up but now that we’re both older we are super close. As a child my mom is what I would call my “Ride or Die” because we are inseparable and did everything together. Growing up I had a very busy childhood due to sports and extracurricular activities. I developed anxiety in 3rd grade that debilitated my ability to enjoy school and understand the curriculum. This translated through elementary and middle school. However, I found my passion for soccer around 10 and played through 18 years old. I believe soccer taught me to be resilient and good at handling pressure. I learned to be a team leader and became captain of my first competitive soccer team. In my free time I enjoy reading romance novels, being active in any way, discovering music, and traveling to new places. Discovering new things is important to me because it makes me realize how big the world is and gets me out of my annoying anxiety brain. I remind myself to enjoy the small things in life and take nothing for granted. I hope to continue being a lifelong student and growing into a better person everyday.